Nick Clegg accused of patronising voters in LBC radio show

Nick Clegg was today accused of patronising voters during a radio phone in
which he admitted the party's by-election performance was "woeful".

By Telegraph reporters

11:47AM GMT 10 Jan 2013

The clash came as the Liberal Democrat leader held the first of a weekly Call Clegg phone-in on London's LBC 97.3 radio.

Mr Clegg has said he is doing the programme, with presenter Nick Ferrari, because he feels politicians do not hear enough from voters directly, and one caller told him his decision to take part was "very commendable".

A Sheffield University student called Lauren Archer, dismissed measures like the pupil premium as "tokenistic" and accused the Government of discouraging young people from gaining qualifications by abolishing the educational maintenance allowance and increasing tuition fees.

"It seems as if the coalition is trying to tell them that higher education is not for them," said Miss Archer - a charge Mr Clegg did not accept.

She later wrote on Twitter: "Must say, I really enjoyed being treated as if I had the political knowledge of a five-year-old."

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The Deputy Prime Minister repeated his apology for committing the Lib Dems not to raise tuition fees when they were not in a position to deliver on the promise, and he admitted the party's recent eighth position in the Rotherham by-election was a "woeful result".

But he said it was always going to be "monumentally controversial" for them to enter coalition with any other party, and said voters were willing to give their support when they had a chance to explain their actions.

"Where we can get on to people's doorstep or in front of a radio mike and explain to people what we are doing, why we are sticking to our guns on some of the big decisions, why the country has to go through this difficult process, I'm finding that people - perhaps not with bunting and wild-eyed enthusiasm - recognise that what we are doing is the right thing," he said.

"What I'm trying to do is build a strong economy and a fair society."

Clegg was also confronted by a former Liberal Democrat councillor who told him he had torn up his party membership card because he was ashamed of what they were doing in Government.

"I joined in 1973 and I'm afraid I can't now say I want to represent the Liberal Democrats. I'm an ex-county councillor in Surrey and I am ashamed of what the party's doing."

He challenged Mr Clegg to explain how he could reconcile the party's principles with "this Government's attacks on the poorest in society".

Mr Clegg asked John to give the party credit for measures like raising the income tax threshold and introducing a pupil premium for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He insisted: "I am immensely proud that, facing the biggest crisis this country has seen in a generation, the Liberal Democrats took a big, collective and brave decision - at some political cost - to say we are going to step up to the plate ... and fix this mess while also trying to make society fairer."

In a wide-ranging half-hour of questions, Mr Clegg was also challenged over benefit cuts, international aid and job losses in the military.

He said he thought it was right for US president Barack Obama to signal that Washington wants Britain to remain a strong voice in Europe.

And he revealed that the Conservative Cabinet minister he would most like to go out for a drink with is Kenneth Clarke.

The most bizarre question was saved until last, when Harry, from Sheffield, asked him if he had ever worn a onesie.

A laughing DPM answered: "I was actually given a big green onesie in Sheffield, which I have kept in its packaging, but I haven't worn it yet."

Asked by Ferrari whether he would be willing to don the item in public for charity, he replied: "It's almost certainly something I would do in the privacy of my own home."